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Why I demited out of York Rite

cacarter

Premium Member
I really want to enjoy YR but there need to be some changes if they want more people to get involved and/or take them seriously.

(Warning: The following is only my opinion.)

2. Festivals cheapen the experience. It's assembly-line Freemasonry and anything that's mass produced is cheap and replaceable. Granted, some lodges can't confer their own degrees (see #1) so they have to wait for festivals to get new members. Then again, if we fix #1 then maybe #2 won't be so pronounced.

3. I won't beat around the bush: Commandry uniforms are stupid. Please somebody fix this! I don't want to spend money on a uniform that looks goofy and makes me feel like a dork. Sure, some lodges have spare uniforms sitting around but they probably wont fit well and they still look silly. Cap and mantles are nice...black triangular aprons are nicer.

4. It takes too long to open Commandry full form. Nothing should take 30-45 minutes to open. Ever. If we were actually plotting the world domination everyone is always talking about then I could get past watching people march around and play with swords for 45 minutes. I could even get past the feathered taco hats. But we're not and the drill is rather pointless, I'd almost rather just show up and hour late.

This sums it up for me as well. I'll go ahead and add that the drill adds to the ridiculousness of the uniforms. It looks like a bunch of Captain Crunch's marching around like tin soldiers. Even performing the new opening with 9, which is full form lite pretty much, it takes forever.

From what I've seen it seems that Commandery in Texas is more worried about getting high scores on their opening/closing, Order of the Temple, and drill teams than they are anything else. I get the idea of putting on a good degree and opening & closing correctly, but it feels like scores are more important than education. My chapter and council don't even have scores for motivation. Instead I end up wasting a couple of hours on a Friday night by attending.

My conclusion: I'll be demitting from all 3 at the end of the year.

You know, the more I think about it, the more I think that ALL appendant bodies are crap.
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
Yes, you, Blake and many others leave for a variety of reasons. Younger family men often simply cannot handle all the dues. Neither can many retirees. It is devasting to the organizations and to the people involved. At one point my annual dues (not all Masonic) totaled a months income. I had to cut back on many things that were important to me. Like NRA. Plus fraternities just do not fill the role they once did for men and their families. In a sense, they are no longer needed. Sad.
I know how you feel. I'm also retired and a die hard NRA supporter. I'll skip a couple of meals a week before I stop my monthly support of the NRA-ILA.
 

MaineMason

Registered User
As I have said before, I'm taking my Royal Arch degree because I am a line officer in my blue lodge which also hosts Chapter. Besides, I have enjoyed my Chapter degrees so far. My heart is in Blue Lodge and Scottish Rite though. After long discussion with my father (32nd degree SR) I made the decision to petition Capitular Masonry partly on the basis of the fact that it is entirely possible that in some years I could end up being the Master of my lodge and should know given that we host Chapter.

It is doubtful that I will progress much further in it as I am truly put off by the militaristic focus of Commandery. (SR Consistories have such stuff but it's not the focus). While I am a practicing Episcopalian, I am also put off somewhat by the overt Christian focus of York Rite bodies, even though I am a member of Rose Croix.

I'm liking Chapter. I will most likely stop there and remain active in Blue Lodge and SR and pay my dues to the Chapter. The problem with appendent bodies is that there is always more to do and while I'm working the chairs in Blue Lodge SR and Chapter will have to take somewhat of a second place.
 

crono782

Premium Member
I would suggest the Council as well if you intend on being in Chapter. The Select Master really rounds out the "circle" of the Blue degrees. Plus there's only two (or three if you count the SEM). I can see not joining the Commandery, but I think missing the Cryptic Council is just tragic. ;)
 

MaineMason

Registered User
I would suggest the Council as well if you intend on being in Chapter. The Select Master really rounds out the "circle" of the Blue degrees. Plus there's only two (or three if you count the SEM). I can see not joining the Commandery, but I think missing the Cryptic Council is just tragic. ;)
I will certainly entertain the idea of Council. I just have no interest in dressing up like a cross between a Civil War general and Archduke Ferdinand. ;)
 

crono782

Premium Member
I will certainly entertain the idea of Council. I just have no interest in dressing up like a cross between a Civil War general and Archduke Ferdinand. ;)

Yah none of that in the Council, hah. What, you don't wanna dress like an ostrich died on General Lee's head??
 

Willaim Perkins

Registered User
First off I understand and, as approach those "golden years".,worry that they may turn into aluminum.
Second the idea that someone just attending a meeting has to ben full uniform is, in my opinion, somewhat of an oblique death sentence.
Third, and most important, what happen to the emphasis on recruitment?
 

Rifleman1776

Registered User
First off I understand and, as approach those "golden years".,worry that they may turn into aluminum.
Second the idea that someone just attending a meeting has to ben full uniform is, in my opinion, somewhat of an oblique death sentence.
Third, and most important, what happen to the emphasis on recruitment?

Willaim, I agree. In Arkansas, all of Masonry is struggling to hang on and simply continue to exist.
 

David Melear

Right Eminent Grand Commander
Premium Member
3. I won't beat around the bush: Commandry uniforms are stupid. Please somebody fix this! I don't want to spend money on a uniform that looks goofy and makes me feel like a dork. Sure, some lodges have spare uniforms sitting around but they probably wont fit well and they still look silly. Cap and mantles are nice...black triangular aprons are nicer.

4. It takes too long to open Commandry full form. Nothing should take 30-45 minutes to open. Ever. If we were actually plotting the world domination everyone is always talking about then I could get past watching people march around and play with swords for 45 minutes. I could even get past the feathered taco hats. But we're not and the drill is rather pointless, I'd almost rather just show up and hour late.

Most people in Texas may not be aware of this, and I cannot remember the date but it seems like in 2006 we adopted the Cap and Mantle as an official uniform of the Grand Commandery of Texas, and you can wear it as your uniform. There are other rules that apply if you are an officer of the Commandery, and there is a certain way you must wear it, just basic rules.

Also, at the 2013 session we changed the Texas Opening and cut out most of the marching. The opening now takes about 20 minutes if not less. It is about as long as the Blue Lodge opening if done correctly.

I only post this because the opening length and the uniform have been common talking points for many years. In Masonry as in politics, sometimes the problems get fixed but the talking points remain. It is time to update these talking points in Texas.
 

JJones

Moderator
Most people in Texas may not be aware of this, and I cannot remember the date but it seems like in 2006 we adopted the Cap and Mantle as an official uniform of the Grand Commandery of Texas, and you can wear it as your uniform. There are other rules that apply if you are an officer of the Commandery, and there is a certain way you must wear it, just basic rules.

Also, at the 2013 session we changed the Texas Opening and cut out most of the marching. The opening now takes about 20 minutes if not less. It is about as long as the Blue Lodge opening if done correctly.

I only post this because the opening length and the uniform have been common talking points for many years. In Masonry as in politics, sometimes the problems get fixed but the talking points remain. It is time to update these talking points in Texas.

That's good to know. Doesn't the entire Commandry need to adopt one uniform or the other? I'm just asking for clarification as it seems that uniforms would have to be...well, uniform.

I don't suppose I've attended since any changes to the drill have taken place. I live closer to a more active Commandry now so I'll pay them a visit. :)
 

Companion Joe

Premium Member
I would love it - love it - if Tennessee cut down some of the marching around in the opening. That is my biggest dislike of the Commandery.

I also agree that a state should agree on one uniform and go with it. That ties into my repeated verse of being where the stalemate arises: those who already have the current uniform don't want to buy something new any less than those without a uniform want to invest in what we wear.
 

Brother JC

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
At the risk of re-repeating myself; they drape us with a sash during the Orders. We should keep it and wear it over a black suit for meetings, etc.
There is not now, nor ever has been, anything chivalric about our uniforms.
 

Companion Joe

Premium Member
We don't do the sash here, but I am certain at one point they did. I have seen Commandery members marching in parades from the late 1800s where all the members wore a white sash over their black uniforms. They all had on the current chapeaus!
 

goomba

Neo-Antient
Site Benefactor
I would love all the Masonic groups to agree that a black suit is acceptable.
 

Companion Joe

Premium Member
Willaim, I agree. In Arkansas, all of Masonry is struggling to hang on and simply continue to exist.

We are very fortunate. My Blue Lodge, Chapter, and Council all had positive gains in membership this year, small gains, but positive for the first time in decades probably. Our Commandery broke even.
 
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